ALFRED, NY – Hartwick couldn't contain a relentless Alfred rushing attack in the final game of the season for both teams on Saturday at Yunevich Stadium. The Saxons prevailed by a final score of 63-21. The Hawks close out their season 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Empire 8. AU wraps its campaign 7-3 and 5-2 in the league.
Alfred accumulated 627 yards of offense, all on the ground, while holding the Hawks to 265 yards on the day. The Saxons would score touchdowns on each of their first three possessions to jump out to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Hawks trimmed the gap to 14 points twice in the second quarter, but AU scored at the end of the period and out-scored 'Wick 28-7 in the second half to score the victory.
Senior quarterback Billy Pine (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) completed 23 passes on 34 attempts for 256 yards and two scores in his final game as a Hawk. Senior Chase Weichman (Rochester, NY/Rush Henrietta) saved his best game for last as he registered career-bests of nine catches and 104 yards receiving. Brad Garcia (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) capped his career with six catches for 93 yards and one score.
Maleke Fuentes did much of the damage for the Saxons. He ran the ball 25 times for 295 yards and five touchdowns. Nasir Smith contributed 138 yards and one score. Aaron Griffin rushed the ball four times for 96 yards with a touchdown and Casey Boston scored twice and rushed for 90 yards on eight carries.
On the defensive side of the football, Chris Goudy (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury HS) and Connor Vlasaty (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown HS) each had 10 tackles to tie for the game-high. Mark Hackett (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls HS) and Dylan Williams-Bachman (Homer, NY/Homer HS) each added nine hits.
Matthew Scotman (White Plains, NY/White Plains HS) had five tackles for 'Wick. Eugene Allen (Laurel, NY/Mattituck HS), David Van Alstine (Otego, NY/Unatego Central), and Biagio Bucciferro (Amsterdam, NY/Broadalbin-Perth HS) all chipped in four. Van Alstine also contributed a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter. It marks the third of his career and he becomes just the fifth player in Hartwick history to register three or more.
Garcia finishes his four-year career at Hartwick as the all-time leader in receptions (220) and receiving yards (4,101). He ranks fourth in receiving touchdowns (39). Garcia is the only player in College history to make over 200 catches and record over 4,000 reception yards.
Pine finishes at 'Wick with 6,807 passing yards and 59 touchdown passes. Both rank fourth in the program record books.
Koree Reed (Baldwinsville, NY/Baldwinsville HS) made two catches for nine yards and a touchdown today in his final collegiate game. In only two seasons, his 2,673 yards receiving places him eighth all-time. His 28 receiving touchdowns rank ninth.
Tito Pichardo (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville HS) ended the day with 15 rushing yards. His 1,936 career yards and 24 rushing touchdowns are both good enough for third all-time at Hartwick.
Hackett, who is only a junior, has 220 tackles in his three seasons. That total already ranks eleventh in the program record book.